Thomas Dutronc, Émir Kusturica, Trio Rosenberg, Sébastien Chaumont, Ron Carter, and Ahmad Jamal celebrated blues, swing, gypsy traditions, cinema, and of course jazz, for another wild evening at the Nice Jazz Festival.
The Nice Jazz Festival 2012 hit its stride on this 4th night of concerts. The Théâtre de Verdure stage once again rivaled its big sister by presenting, under the summer heat, Sébastien Chaumont & Guest, Ron Carter’s “Golden Stricker” Trio, and Ahmad Jamal.
The first artist, a true Niçois at heart, has music imbued with blues, soul, and swing with a strong and assumed identity. A superb set and a no less fantastic response from the audience, who even gave him a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. A style quite different from the American Ron Carter, who came second on stage. This jazz legend opted for a winning trio: piano, guitar, and bass accompanied by Mulger Miller and Russel Malone, who are visibly masters of their art.
Ahmad Jamal, the emblematic pianist of Keith Jarrett, finally closed this 4th night on the Théâtre de Verdure stage. Already present in 2011 at the same venue, he returned to present his new album “Blue Moon.”
Opposite the “Nice Jazz Festival complex” and after the partner “village,” stands the Masséna stage, backed by Venet’s arch. It also hosted three “greats” with the Trio Rosenberg, Thomas Dutronc, and Emir Kusturica.
The Trio Rosenberg elegantly represented the quintessence of gypsy jazz. A style also inspired by Thomas Dutronc in a more swing rhythm. Surrounded by his fans and overwhelmed by the azure heat, the singer with more than 600,000 albums sold knows how to highlight rhythms and songs with meaningful lyrics. It’s a pity, however, that he forbade photographers (except 4 of them) to immortalize him, preventing the offer of a photo gallery like for the “whole” of the artists from this Festival.
Emir Kusturica, known for his Palme d’Or awards at the Cannes Film Festival and numerous accolades, closed the 4th night on the Masséna stage. This Serbian man of many talents waltzed from gypsy tradition to cinema, passing through country, musette, and rock, in front of an enthralled audience who gave him a sustained final ovation.
This evening will mark the last night at the Nice Jazz Festival, and there is no doubt that the celebration will be part of the event once again, as it has been since the start of a festival organized like a perfectly orchestrated symphony!
